Mark 14:66-72

Peter's Denial. Peter had followed into the inner court of the chief priest's palace (Mark 14:54). Here he is challenged by a maid-servant. He denies all knowledge and understanding of her meaning. The redundancy of the sentence befits his embarrassment. Later, in the porch that gave access to the courtyard, the maid repeats her challenge. Peter denies again. The third denial is accompanied with oaths. Mk. retains his second cock-crow.

Mark 14:72. The word rendered when he thought thereon * is obscure. It may also mean answering. Peter recalled the word of Jesus, and his tears were his answer (see Swete). [J. H. Moulton points out that the verb is found in the papyri in the sense to set about doing a thing. So here he set to and wept, which is practically equivalent to RV. See also Allen's note. A. S. P.]